Veterans job fair gets tech boost

It shouldn’t be this way, but it is: veterans of the U.S. military, age 20 to 24, are facing an average 30 percent unemployment rate, far above the national average, which remains over 8 percent. It’s ironic, to say the least, when you consider that these young men and women are highly trained, well disciplined, hard working, and many have proven themselves under the most grueling of conditions. After a tour in Afghanistan, a traffic tie-up on the Beltway must seem trivial.

There are efforts to help vets find job, and an area tech firm, Serco, is offering a boost to one local event aimed at doing that. The announcement says it rather well, so here it is:

SEE RELATED:

The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) hosts a major Veteran-focused career fair and exposition to provide job opportunities, employment services and information on benefits available to Veterans. The Veteran Career Fair and Expo will take place on Wednesday, January 18, 2012, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place, NW, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Federal agencies, public and private sector organizations will be on hand to interview Veterans for over 5,000 job openings and extend tentative job offers. Veterans will be able to attend training on building resumes and interviewing and learn about small business opportunities. In addition, DVA will be showcasing its VA for Vets program which provides the most advanced online “high-tech” and “high touch” approach to recruiting, hiring, retaining, and reintegrating Veterans into civilian careers. VA for Vets includes an integrated military skills translator and -career assessment tool; a resume builder to help Veterans more readily compete for open positions; and avatar-based technology that connects deployed Service Members back to VA during and after their operational missions.

VA for Vets also connects Veterans and Military Service Members working at VA with coaches who provide career guidance and reintegration support. To learn more, visit www.VAforVets.VA.gov.

Serco has supported the implementation of VA for Vets and provides ongoing execution services for the initiative by providing program management, IT support, website management, career center, coaching, call center, help desk, training and communications support. …

Veterans looking to translate their military skills and create a resume in advance of the event can visit the VA for Vets career center at www.VAforVets.VA.gov. Veterans attending the Career Fair and Expo should bring proof of military service. If Veterans are unable to locate proof of service, VA staff members will be available to assist them on the day of the event. Free child care service is available. To learn more about the event, visit www.VAforVets.com/DC.

Helping those who’ve served our nation and returned to find work is certainly noble, and apparently very necessary right now. Readers who might be interested in attending may do well to check this out.